Covering means for luggage



March 29, 1955 TQRRENT 2,705,063

COVERING MEANS FOR LUGGAGE Filed March 29, 1952 2 Shets-Sheet 1 5 JNVENTOR.

MARTlN TORRENT ATWUR/VF) March 29, 1955 M. TORRENT COVERING MEANS FOR LUGGAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1952 INVENTOR, MARTIN TORRENT BY COVERING MEANS FOR LUGGAGE Martin Torrent, Palma de Mallorca, Spain Application March 29, 1952, Serial No. 279,334 2 Claims. (Cl. 190-51) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in luggage, particularly to novel means for forming and covering compartments therein.

In the use of suitcases, valises, trunks and the like it is an ever present problem of how to keep the various articles therein separate from each other, readily accessible, identifiable, neat, clean and in good order. The present invention solves this problem and provides a means for organizing the contents of luggage of all types in a relatively simple and inexpensive manner. Basically the invention employs a plurality of individual compartments for the various articles to be carried in the luggage, each or a plurality of compartments being covered with a sheet held by slide fasteners. The sheet may be labelled to identify the contents of the various compartments.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide novel means for dividing an article of luggage into compartments and covering them.

It is a further object of the invention to provide cover sheets for luggage compartments held by slide fasteners.

It is a further object of the invention to provide removable compartments for luggage, one or a plurality of compartments being covered by slide fastener held cover sheets bearing labels having indicia of the contents of the compartments.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features are more particularly set forth.

On the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a suitcase showing the use of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a tray suitable for trunk or suitcase use embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of a luggage container embodying the invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on lines 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the invention.

Fig. 4A illustrates an enlarged detail of Fig. 4 wherein the slide fastener is attached to an alternate structure.

Fig. 1 shows a suitcase having a lower portion 11 and upper portion 12 in the form of individual rectangular containers. Each container has a plurality of compartments as A, B, C, formed by dividing walls such as walls 34. The individual compartments in the upper portion 12 are covered by cover sheets 17 and 18. At the sides of these cover sheets are attached slide fasteners 19 by which the sheets may be attached to each other. Slide fastener portions 20 are also provided at the sides of the containers to which the slide fastener portions 19 at the outermost sides of the cover sheets may be attached. On the outer side of each cover sheet is disposed a removable label 21 bearing indicia indicating the nature and quantity of the items in the particular compartment covered by the cover sheet.

The neat, orderly, and secure manner in which the contents of the compartments are held is readily apparent. The cover sheets in the lower container 11 are shown in open and partially open position to show the various constructional features of the invention. The value of the removable labels 21 on the cover sheets is evident since they may possibly itemize the contents of the compartments so that the hurried traveller may nited States, Patent 2,705,063 Patented Mar. 29,

quickly organize the contents of the compartments and check the contents for the correct number and kind of items the compartment is to contain.

Fig. 2 shows a tray such as could be used in a trunk or suitcase not otherwise fitted with compartments. One or a plurality of such trays could be used in a piece of luggage as desired.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of a suitcase or a tray 32 having a lining 33 and cover sheets 39. It is a particular feature of the invention that only one compartment may be exposed at a time if so desired, since the compartments are individually covered. The cover sheets are provided with slide fasteners at the sides thereof which fasten to each other intermediate the sides of the tray and fasten to the fastener portions 20 at the sides of the tray. As shown in Fig. 4, two layers of cover sheets 39, 39 are used with slide fasteners 19', 20' disposed and performing the same functions as fastener portions 19, 20 respectively. Cover sheets 39 are disposed directly over the dividing walls 34 which form compartments in the lower portion of the suitcase or tray. Attached to the cover sheets 39 are additional flexible walls 35 to the free upper sides of which are attached slide fastener portions 36.

The slide fastener portion 19B can attach to slide fastener portion 19A or 36 as shown by Fig. 4A. If the slide fastener portions 19A, 19B are attached to each other the cover sheets 39 form a single continuous cover sheet over the entire top of the container 32. If slide fastener portions 193, 36 are attached to each other, a new compartment 41 is formed. Slide fastener portions 37 are disposed at the ends of flexible strips 40 which are attached to the walls 35. These slide fastener portions 37 can be attached to the slide fastener portions 19A as shown by Fig. 4A which will form additional compartments 42. By the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 the number and sizes of the compartments may be established in accordance with the sizes and quantities of the goods to be packed therein.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A luggage container comprising a plurality of dividing walls forming compartments therein, a cover sheet disposed over said compartments and attached to the sides of said container bv slide fasteners, flexible walls attached to said cover sheet and disposed intermediate said sides of the container, slide fasteners attached to the ends of said walls, a plurality of cover sheets disposed over said first named cover sheet and attached to said sides of the container by slide fasteners, said cover sheets also being attached to each other by slide fasteners, the last named slide fasteners being attachable to the slide fasteners attached to said flexible walls to form additional compartments in the container.

2. A luggage container comprising a rectangular boxlike body, a plurality of spaced walls disposed perpendicular to the bottom wall of the box-like body and extending from the bottom wall to a point midway the height of the box-like body, a cover sheet stretched across the top of said perpendicular walls and being attached to the side walls of the box-like body by slide fasteners, a plurality of cover sheets stretched across the top ends of the side walls of the box-like body, said cover sheets being attached to each other and to the side walls by slide fasteners, sets of flexible dividing walls disposed in alignment with slide fasteners attaching the upper cover sheets to each other, each set of dividing walls including a main wall and an auxiliary wall forming a lateral extension of the main wall, each main wall of a set being secured to the lower cover sheet, each of said main and auxiliary walls having slide fasteners at their free ends for selective engagement with the slide fasteners of either one of the ends of the upper adjacent cover sheets thereabove for dividing the box-like body into a plurality of upper compartments.

References Cited in the file of this patent 4 Lindemann Sept. 20, 1938 Bauch Nov. 14, 1939 McCurdy Sept. 3, 1940 Naken 4; Apr. 29, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 8, 1934 

